I am confident that the Port Authority will want to act quickly and protect the workers that are vital to the airports' daily operations. We may not be able to make working at the airport stress-free, but we can at least give these workers the security of knowing they will be paid their due.

The Washington, D.C. restaurant industry is not only a haven for big shot restaurateurs, it's quickly becoming a strong industry for restaurant workers as well. Let's just take a look at some of the ways this is true.

Wage theft is a crime, but we don't treat it like one. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the total amount stolen from workers far eclipses the total amount from all bank, gas station and convenience store robberies in 2008.

Fueled by the growth of "perma-temp" workers who toil for years at the same job for low wages, few if any benefits and with no protections, thousands of employees are increasingly being left behind while their companies reap the benefits of their hard work.

Wage theft is particularly prevalent among low-wage workers, such as those in the restaurant, retail, home health care and personal and repair services industries. Misclassification touches more traditionally middle class industries, such as construction and trucking.

What's revealed in these arrangements is striking: a belief that, once you've hired someone, you have bought the power to control their future when they work for you -- even after they've quit. In other words, you own them.